Prepayment meter



June 12, 1934. Q BO 1,962,923

PREPAYMENT METER Filed Sept. 9, 1931 Patented June 12, 1934 I v i UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca 1,962,923 PREPAYIHENT METER Onsime Borel, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to {48151118 & .Gyr, A.-G., a corporation of Switzer- Application September 9, 1931, Serial No. 561,897 In Switzerland September 18, 1930 Claims. (C1. 194--3) The present invention relates to prepayment until such time as it is closed by insertion of coins meters, and more particularly-to a prepayment in the prepayment mechanism later to be demeter adapted to collect a predetermined fixed scribed. The cut-out switch 3 has its shaft '1' charge. fixedly connected to the differential shaft 8, and

' I Objects and advantages of the invention will be is moved thereby to open or close the switch. 60

. set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be The prepayment device, into which the I obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice customer inserts one or more coins to close the with the invention, the same being realized and switch and secure the delivery of an equivalent attained by means of the instrumentalities and amount of energy, comprises a pair of slotted 10 combinations pointed out in the appended claims. discs 10, 11, mounted on shaft 12, disc 11 being 65 The invention consists in the novel parts, confast to shaft 12, while the other disc 10 is'loosely structions, arrangements, combinations and immounted on the shaft by means of a sleeve 13 to provements herein shown and described. which is connected the actuating handle 14. The The accompanying drawing, referred to herein customer inserts coins in the slots 15,1inking the 15 and constituting a part hereof, illustrates emboditwo discs together, and then turns the actuating 7 ments of the invention, and together with the handle, causing the upper disc 11 and shaft 12 description, serves to explain the principles of the to rotate and releasin the q t e e d 0f t e invention. I handle stroke in the usual manner.

Of the drawing:-- At its upper end shaft 12 carries a pair of gears Figure 1 is a view showing the present preferred 16 and One. Of w 16, is as on the S aft 75 and illustrative embodiment of the invention; While the fir Of t e a s 8 O a y Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating a held to the shaft by means of a friction clutch 18. modified embodiment of the invention; The prep yment device is coupled to the cut- Figure 3 is a detailed plan view of an attachut sw t h by m ans f a d nt al gearing .ment for use with a, modified embodiment of the which transmits the actuation of the prepayment 80 invention; device to the cut-out switch at two predetermined Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a and different ratios. As embodied, the gears 16 modified embodiment of the invention;- and and 1'1 mesh with gears 19 and 20, respectively, Figure 5.is .a fragmentary side elevation of a gear being fi ed t0 Shaft 21, while gear 0 i8 further modification of the invention. fixed to a sleeve 22 loose on said shaft. Sleeve 85 The present invention has for its object the 22 has fastened to its other end a differential gear provision of a novel and improved prepayment 23, which meshes with a revoluble pinion 24 meter adapted to collect a predetermined fixed mounted on an arm fixed to shaft 21, and meshservice charge as coins are inserted in the meter. g W the Other differential a 5 fast to a A further object is the provision of a meter of the sleeve 26. Sleeve 26 is loose on shaft 21 and car- 90 kind described in which each coin deposited is es at its pp end a bevel gear Which ves appropriated in part to pay theservice charge differential gear 6 ou h gears 8 a d 29.

until the service charge is fully collected. Still At thebegin g of a monthly her another object is the provision of a prepayment metering period, the actuation of handle 14,

meter which is relatively simple and can be Causes a quarter revolution of discs 10, 11, and 95 economically constructed. gears 16, 17 for each coin deposited, and dif- In accordance with the present preferred and ferential gear 23 and pinion 24 are moved thereillustrative embodiment of the invention, the by in unison to drive the diiferenial gear 25, theremetering means for measuring the consumption by accumulating on the cut-out switch mechaof electrical energy is an induction watt-hour nism 3 a -reserve equivalent to one-half the value 100 meter of conventional construction which comof the coin deposited. prises the usual meter disc 1 and driving magnets For increasing the ratio of the drive between 2 to drive the disc proportionately to energy conthe prepayment device and the cut-out switch, so sumption. that the customer will receive full energy value The meter disc 1 drives a cut-out switch 3 of for his money after the predetermined fixed 105 conventional construction through a differential charge has been paid, means are provided for 4, 5, 6, and when the cut-out switch mechanism holding one of the differential gears against rotais returned to its original position by operation tion. Where the gears 16 and 17 are of the same of the meter, the cut-out switch is opened in the size this doubles the rate of accumulation of surusual manner, interrupting the supply of current, plus in the cut-out switch. As embodied, a pair 11b when they have been returned to zero. Shaft 32 carries a totalizing register, which is returned to zero when the fixed predetermined charge has been fully paid, and comprises a pair of register wheels 34,35 connected together by the usual transfer mechanism 36. The units wheel 35 and disc 30 are fixed to shaft 32, while the tens wheel 34 and disc 31 are fast to a sleeve 37 loosely mounted on the shaft.

This ratio changing mechanism is driven from sleeve 22, by means of gear 40 which drives sleeve 41 through gears 42, 43 and 44, and sleeve 41 is loosely journalled on a longitudinally slidable sleeve 45, held against rotation on shaft 32, and pressed into frictional contact with sleeve 41 by spring 46. At the end of sleeve 45 is a friction disc 47 which may be pressed inwardly to release the friction coupling between sleeves 41, 45, and permits the service man to set the fixed charge register at the beginning of each period. This resetting of the fixed charge mechanism is conveniently accomplished by the insertion of a blunt pencil through a hole 48 in the meter casing, pressing inwardly on the friction disc 47 and turning it until the register shows the'proper predetermined fixed charge.

Other totalizing registers are provided for accumulating the totals of the energy metered, the coins deposited and appropriated in payment of the fixed charges, the coins appropriated in payment of energy, and the total of unappropriated coins.

The register for the total energy consumed comprises a totalizing register 50 of conventional construction which is driven directly from the meter through pinion 51.

The register for the total coins appropriated in payment of the fixed charges, comprises the totalizing register 52 which is driven through a gear train comprising gears 53, '54, 55 from gear 44, and is actuated by any rotation of gear 17.

The register for the total coins appropriated by metered energy and accumulated against energy to be metered comprises the totalizing register 56 which is driven directly from gear 28, through pinion 57.

The register for the total unappropriated coins comprises a register 58 which is driven from the differential shaft 8 through gears 59, 60 in accordance with orbital movement of the difierential pinion 5, and is driven forwardly as coins are deposited, and reversely as they are appropriated by rotation of the meter disc. 1

By varying theratio'of gears 16, 17, 19 and 20, the percentage of the coins deposited which is appropriated for prepayment of the fixed charge may be varied as desired and by choosing a suitable ratio prepayment of the fixed charge in full may be required before any current is supplied through the meter.

In accordance with a modified embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the register for the total coins, appropriated for the fixed charges is driven from shaft 32 through differential 65, having one of its gears loose on shaft 32 and connected thereto .by ratchet 66, In this embodiment, the friction disc is replaced by a ratchet 67, in which the ratchet wheel is frictionally mounted on the shaft 32, permitting the shaft to be turned manually in one direction only when clutch '45 is released by axial movement thereof, while ratchet 68 permits the shaft to bedriven only in the reverse direction.

with a gear 20 fixed to sleeve 22, and gear 19 meshes with gear 16 and is fixed to shaft 21. Means are provided for alternatively coupling gears 16 and 17 or 19 and 20 together, and for this purpose a spring fork 18' is provided which can he slipped over shaft 12 or 21 to couple the pairs of gears together.

With spring fork 18' on shaft 12 and coupling gears 16 and 17 together, one ratio is established which, in the present instance, appropriates 75 per cent of the coins for the fixed charge until it is fully paid. By opening the casing of the meter, an authorized person may change this ratio by slipping the forked spring 18' over shaft 21 to form a friction coupling between gears 19 and 20, thereby reducing the ratio to 50 per cent, with the gear ratio shown.

Figure 5 of the drawing shows a modification of the invention in which the change from one ratio to the other may be accomplished without opening the casing of the meter. As embodied, gear 17 is loosely mounted on shaft 12 and spaced from gear 16 fixed to the shaft. A friction clutch 10k 70 is provided between the gears and is pressed against the adjacent faces of the gears by spring '11 to couple these gears together. Gears 19 and 20, fixed to shaft 21 and sleeve 22, respectively, are similarly provided with a friction clutch 72 which is pressed against the gear faces by s ring 73.

Means are provided for alternatively rendering one or the other of the spring clutches operative, and as embodied, a pair of levers 74 and 75 are provided, pivoted to each other at 76 be- .tween the shafts 12 and 21, and projecting outwardly towards the meter casing 77. Levers 74 and 75 bear against collars on the clutches and serve to compress spring 71 or 73. A spring 78 is provided for compressing the outer ends of the levers together to render clutch 72 normally inoperative, and the outer ,ends of these levers may be ,moved apart by a cone 79 mounted on screw 80. An inward movement of cone 79 renders clutch 72 operative, while an outward movement of this cone renders the other clutch 70 operative.

For preventing an,unauthorized change in the ratio of the amount appropriated for payment of the fixed charge, screw 80 has its head provided with a hole 81 through which and a hole in lug 82 the usual wire seal may be threaded.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the in- .vention and without sacrificing its chief adcut-out switch by the action of the meter after consumption of a predetermined. amount of energy.

2. A prepayment meter including in combination a meter, a cut-out switch, a coin controlled actuating device for closing the switch, a differential interposed between the coin controlled actuating device and the cut-out switch for appropriating a portion of each of the coins deposited to effect a fixed charge, means for preventing appropriation of coins by said differential after a predetermined number of coins have been deposited, and means connecting the meter and cutout switch for opening the switch after consumption of a predetermined quantity of energy.

3. A prepayment meter including in combination a meter, a cut-out switch, a difierential connecting the meter and switch, a coin actuated mechanism for closing said switch, a differential for driving said first differential from the coin actuated mechanism, said differentials serving to appropriate coins as power is measured, and means for preventing appropriation of coins by said second difierential after a predetermined number of coins have been deposited whereby the ratio between the coin actuated mechanism and switch is changed.

4. A prepayment meter including in combination a meter, a cut-out switch, a differential connecting the meter and switch, a coin actuated mechanism for closing said switch, a differential for driving said first differential from the coin actuated mechanism, said diflerentials serving to appropriate coins as power is measured, means for preventing appropriation of coins by said second diiferential after a predetermined number of coins have been deposited whereby the ratio between the coin actuated mechanism and switch is changed, gearing connecting said coin actuated means with said second differential and means for varying the effective ratio of said gearing.

5. A prepayment meter including in combination a meter, a cut-out switch, a differential connecting the meter and switch, a coin actuated mechanism for closing said switch, a difierential for driving said first differential from the coin actuated mechanism, said difl'erentials serving to appropriate coins as power is measured, means for preventing appropriation of coins by said second differential after a predetermined number 01 coins have been deposited whereby the ratio between the coin actuated mechanism and. switch is changed, a plurality of gear-trains connecting said coin actuated means with said second diiferential and means for alternatively rendering one of said gear trains operative.

6. A prepayment meter including in combination a meter, a cut-out switch, a differential connecting the meter and switch, a coin actuated mechanism for closing said switch, a differential for driving said first differential from the coin actuated mechanism, said difierentials serving to appropriate coins as power is measured, means for preventing appropriation of coins by said second difierential after a predetermined number of coins have been deposited whereby the ratio between the coin actuated mechanism and switch is changed, a plurality of gear trains connecting said coin actuated means with said second difierential, a casing enclosing all of said mechanism and means external to said casing for alternatively rendering one of said gear trains operative.

7. A prepayment meter including in combination a metering element, a cut-out switch, a coin controlled device for closing the switch and maintaining the switch closed until an amount of current equivalent to a portion of the value of the coins has been consumed, means for appropriating the remainder of the value of the coins to collect a predetermined fixed charge,-

and means for varying the rate at which said portion is collected.

8. A prepayment meter including in combination a metering element, a cut-out switch, a coin controlled device for closing the switch and maintaining the switch closed until an amount of current equivalent to a portion of the value of the coins has been consumed, means for appropriating a portion of the value of the coins to collect a predetermined fixed charge at a plurality of different rates, means for varying the rate at which said coins are appropriated for the fixed charge and means for rendering the fixed charge device inoperative when the charge is fully collected.

9. A prepayment meter including in'combination a metering element,1a cut-out switch, a coin controlled device for closing the switch and maintaining the switch closed until an amount of current equivalent to a portion of the value of the coins has been consumed, means for appropriating a predetermined percentage of the deposited coins in payment of a fixed charge and means for varying the rate at which the coins are appropriated in payment of thefixed charge.

10. A prepayment meter including in combination a metering element, a cut-out switch, a coin controlled device for closing the switch and means for opening said switch when the current con- 

